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#Selfie or #Selfless? Stewardship for Millennials

Let’s take a #SELFIE: our millennial generation has been branded as an entitled, impatient, selfish, judgmental, #blessed group that takes a selfie every ten minutes. Our confidence is often labeled as vanity. Through technology, we “communicate” with over 300 people a day but don’t truly connect with anyone. Despite our apparent lack of meaningful connections, we have arguably more potential for effective stewardship than any generation before us. Our ability to share information is unprecedented, but how we utilize and steward that advantage will determine if our generation’s reputation is selfish or selfless.

Stewardship is a word that often invokes thought of lofty ideals, something Bill Gates epitomizes while giving away his hard earned billions. But stewardship is much easier to embody than most think possible. It is making conscious daily decisions that positively impact the world. We as individuals must take ownership of our lives to cement a generational legacy. If AA can tackle alcoholism, perhaps the four A’s of stewardship can address “selfieism.” Here are four As for millennials to embrace to become the stewards of tomorrow’s world.

1. Amount: The volume of information available today is overwhelming. Today’s information age has put infinite knowledge at our fingertips, but how we use this knowledge is beyond what technology can provide. Many of us are guilty of being passive receivers of this information; to make full use of the resources before us, we have to learn to filter out the unnecessary and evaluate the quality of content. We have the breadth of knowledge; let us now go for depth. For instance, sit down and decide if the information you receive adds value to your life and other’s. More focus will enable us to better steward the resources at our disposal.

2. Acceleration: Our potential for productivity is limitless, yet the fast pace of our world brings about challenges. Because we can access anything from anywhere at anytime, we can’t focus on a single task without getting distracted by another in our search for instant gratification. We have to take a step back from the hustle and bustle to determine what is actually most meaningful to us. Take time to spend 15 minutes a day reading a book, journaling, or even walking. As stewards of today, it’s essential that we intentionally invest in what inspires us instead of entertaining distractions.

3. Accountability: Technology has narrowed our physical world. All we need is a simple text to determine if a friend is available. Plans made in the virtual world manifest themselves in the physical world. Accountability is vital to ensuring that these plans become reality. Stewardship is no exception to this dynamic. As we convey our ideas virtually, technology enables them to become tangible shared experiences. For example, by sharing our ambitions, we can utilize family, friends, and even alarms to keep us aligned with our goals. Stewardship then becomes a commitment enforceable both virtually and physically.

4. Attitude: More often than not, we are quick to judge ourselves and criticize our shortcomings. It can be discouraging when we consider people like Mark Zuckerberg to be the only acceptable example of success. Instead of blindly comparing ourselves to these rare cases, we must take action to establish what success means in our own terms. This can be done by taking an hour at the beginning of the year to define personal success. Set manageable goals to strive towards and reflect at the end of each month, ensuring that personal trajectories are set on the right course. With our attitudes and actions aligned, we will be well equipped to make a lasting impact. The only prerequisite to becoming a steward is not owning a small fortune but having an attitude of stewardship.

What the four As convey is that you don’t have to make a choice between taking care of yourself or taking care of others. Stewardship entails abandoning the mindset of OR; caring for others and caring for oneself are not mutually exclusive. Millennials can take care of themselves AND take care of others. This generation must maintain a vibrant sense of individualism while stressing the importance of selflessness. The question of whether to focus on Selfie or Selfless is not one of choice but one of balance. We can still take selfies and be selfless.
#MCLC2015